Woman, teen wins Jersey City reusable bag design contest

A Jersey City woman and a Bayonne teen won a contest to design two reusable bags as part of an effort to reduce the use of plastic bags in Jersey City.

ReUse Jersey City, which sponsored the contest, is arranging for 1,500 bags emblazoned with the two winning designs to be printed and sold at cost to schools and local nonprofits, which can then sell the bags at fundraisers.

Shirin Vazir, of Dixon Mills in Downtown Jersey City, won in the design contest's adult category for her design featuring the Statue of Liberty and other items Vazir said she associates with Jersey City.

Vazir said she's a fierce advocate for eliminating plastic bags.

"It's important for the longevity of the community," she said.

Andrea Casino, 12, won in the design contest's under 18 category for her design featuring a butterfly.

"The world is so polluted, and plastics are one of the causes of pollution," Casino said at the award ceremony, held on the steps of City Hall Wednesday afternoon.

The bags featuring Vazir's and Casino's designs will be created and produced by Bag the Habit and Depository Trust and Clearing Corp.

The winners also received $250 each and certificates from Mayor Steve Fulop, who said that Jersey City uses over 100 million plastic bags a year.